Centella asiatica is an ethnomedicinal herbaceous species that grows abundantly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of China, India, South-Eastern Asia and Africa. It is a popular nutraceutical that is employed in various forms of clinical and cosmetic treatments. C. asiatica extracts are reported widely in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine to boost memory, prevent cognitive deficits and improve brain functions. The major bioactive constituents of C. asiatica are the pentacyclic triterpenoid glycosides, asiaticoside and madecassoside, and their corresponding aglycones, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Asiaticoside and madecassoside have been identified as the marker compounds of C. asiatica in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and these triterpene compounds offer a wide range of pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, anti-depressant, anxiolytic, antifibrotic, antibacterial, anti-arthritic, anti-tumour and immunomodulatory activities. Asiaticoside and madecassoside are also used extensively in treating skin abnormalities, burn injuries, ischaemia, ulcers, asthma, lupus, psoriasis and scleroderma. Besides medicinal applications, these phytocompounds are considered cosmetically beneficial for their role in anti-ageing, skin hydration, collagen synthesis, UV protection and curing scars. Existing reports and experimental studies on these compounds between 2005 and 2022 have been selectively reviewed in this article to provide a comprehensive overview of the numerous therapeutic advantages of asiaticoside and madecassoside and their potential roles in the medical future.

BACKGROUND: Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., a potential medicinal plant, is widely used in orient traditional medicine. Its major active constituents include asiaticoside (AS), madecassoside (MS), asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Thereinto, AS is a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin with a variety of pharmacological effects including antitumor, neuroprotective and wound healing effects.
OBJECTIVE: In this review, we summarize the pharmacokinetics, safety and pharmacological properties of AS.
METHODS: We gathered information about AS from articles published up to 2022 and listed in Google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, and similar databases. The keywords used in our search included \"asiaticoside\", \"Centella asiatica\", \"pharmacokinetics\", \"nerve\", \"cancer\", \"skin\", etc. RESULTS: AS appeared to degrade through a first-order reaction and had low biotoxicity. However, the pharmacokinetic properties of AS differed according to species. AS is highly blood-brain-barrier permeable without any harmful side effect. It has a variety of pharmacological effects including anti-neural inflammation and anti-cancer properties, as well as protective properties for the skin, cardiovascular system, and pulmonary system.
CONCLUSIONS: This review comprehensively summarized current information regarding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties of AS, and supported the pharmaceutical value of this compound. Future research should focus on improving bioavailability of AS and conducting clinical assessment.

Oleanolic acid is an analogue of pentacyclic triterpenoids. It has been used as a hepatic drug for over 20 years in China. Currently, there are only five approved drugs derived from pentacyclic triterpenoids, including oleanolic acid (liver diseases), asiaticoside (wound healing), glycyrrhizinate (liver diseases), isoglycyrrhizinate (liver disease) and sodium aescinate (hydrocephalus). To understand more about the bioactivity and functional mechanisms of oleanolic acid, it can be developed as a potent therapeutic agent, in particular, for the prevention and treatment of heart diseases that are the leading cause of death for people worldwide. The primary aim of this mini-review is to summarize the new applications of oleanolic acid and its derivatives as cardioprotective agents reported in recent years and to highlight their therapeutic perspectives in cardiovascular diseases.